Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-19
Our Shipping Tntcrests-Why Should
we COMPLAIN?

through nio'iou otoN'
must regain it in the same way. The lesson
we have received for nothing has cost Eng
land alone millions of dollars. The path
taken by our "Big Cousin" in running away
from us is crooked one, and may be
abridged by straight "cross lot" move
ment 10 the right direction.
There are many reasons quoted why there
are no steamships in the transatlantic pas
sencer trade that carry the American flag.
II would be useless to burden our readers
with all that has been offered in the shape
of reasons why such is the case, as it would
only result in the reproduction Of lot of
utterances from varied standpoints accord
ing to the respective interests of the indi-
yidual who has view TO express on the
subject. The fact is that long before the
war had ANYTHING to do with the matter
wooden ship building was doomed, and as
America led the world in ship building so
long as wood was an accepted material for
that purpose it is not strange that while she
was striving to hold the art down to wood
en- basis that Europe, with iron as substi-
tute, gained ground rapidly until almost the
entire shipbuilding industry was transplant
ed in foreign countries leaving America, as
it were, almost helpless in this particular.
Aside from the scores of foreign freight
steamers that ply between this country and
Europe, there are nearly one hundred pas
senger line ships passing in and out OF the
port of New York alone, every one OF which
| lies foreign flag and give employment to
more than ten thousand foreign officers and
| men.
This state Of things, as one may imagine,
| 1n.,
score of years. it was of slow growth, but
with the encouragement received at hrst
this change has been wrought through the
influence of profit and national pride until
to-day, in the face of the magnitude of for
een supremacy on the ocean, cur express
sion of hope for revival of shipbuilding in
| this country is met with half-hearted re-
sponse on all sides.
Can it be accomplished, is the question,
and how? Europe having performed one
great thing in the practical demonstration
of iron as better material than wood for
shipbuiding-tha of saving to America all
the cost of SO vast an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
can well afford to go ahead with the devel
opment of the steamship just as she has in
| the development of many other things that
have been handed down to u5 by our mother
country in the past.
In all cases where this country has gained
a point in such matters it was by method.
Method here must be of such character as
TO offset the difference in the cost of labor,
which is at all times higher in proportion
hero than in any foreign country. Method
again must come in to tho arrangement oil
parts so as to produce better vessel with
The same quantity and quality of material
employed And in all methods time in con.
structiou must be SO considered as to make
il an object for an investor to lay aside other
matters with certainty of seeing fleet OF
vessels built before great competition cah
be again instituted in foreign countries.
America, after so long repose from ac-
tive shipbuidiDg should, and doubtless will,
invest literally in iron shipbulding when
the matter of profit is fairly assured. Had
all these changes in the art of shipbulding
proceeded unobserved by American engi
neers it would have been strange indeed.
One at least there is who has kept q faith
ful watch over the interests of America in
respect to this great subject. While many
other engineers, particularly on this side OF
the Atlantic, have been strainiDg their
minds in the development of gun boats aud
other would.be destroyers,t this man has been
planning swift, safe passenger carrier for
tho transatlantic service, which vessel will
i,e as far in advance of the present Atlantic
liner as such is in advance of our old fash
toned steamers which answered only in
days done by. Not only this, but the meth
DDS employed in building such q vessel, yes.
sells for every other possible service, includ-
| ing war vessels, can be constructed in much
shorter space of time and with smaller
outlay of money than the same class of YES
| sci can be built in any country in the world
under common methods.
The method herein alluded to and which
has been endorsed by practical men here
and abroad, is that of Mr.. Robert M. Fryer,
an engineer whose practical attainments are
Immediately recognized by every one who
meets him on the subject of marine arch
lecture. steam engineering, or any other
scientific subject, 30 fur rs we have found,
and to anybody who will witness the char
acter OF his work there will be little doubt
for his success.
The vessel designed for the transatlantic
trade and which, it is believed, will become
universal favorte and earn place in the
trade for sufficient number of sister ships
to do the most of the passenger carrying be-
tween the two countries will be known as
the Pocahontas, a description of which has
been published throughout the world and
mas Deen eDuOIseu ny tuo hiSucSb autuoIl-
ties in the land. The passage can be made
between New York and Queenstown by
this vessel within six days and in perfect
safety, as the vessel will neither sink nor
burn.
The patents covering this invention are
taken out In all principal countries and are
held by the Arrow Steamship Company New
York, which has purchased a shipyard at
Alexandria, Va, where all the preparatory
work has been done for building ships on
the above plans The Pocahontas will be
finished to be- in service next spring and
will. in all probability, be followed by two
sister ships before the following winter
This will give a weekly service between
Europe and America through which mail
contracts eau be secured. When all this is |!
done it can truly be said that private con-
Germ with limited means, without govern
H. r L..